Dakota has been in private practice since 1994. She received her doctorate from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpenteria, California. She has advanced training in EMDR and is trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She also uses ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to treat anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In addition to her clinical work with individuals, couples, and family groupings, she has provided consultation to other therapists. She provides trainings for mental health staff in agencies on issues related to the psychological impact of trauma and to sexual orientation and gender identity issues.
Dakota's clinical work is marked by her caring, non-judgmental, depth approach to the variety of issues that people bring into therapy. She helps people come to deeper acceptance of themselves and better integration of thought, feeling, and body. Her clients represent a variety of cultural, ethnic, and class backgrounds, as well as ages. She especially enjoys working with people whose early life experiences—whether shaped by the continuous stress of feeling insecurely connected to others, uncared for, or unwelcome or by discreet traumatic events—have caused them to struggle in the present with relationships, work, motivation, and the ability to feel okay about themselves.